Bedford Crime Rate June 2024 | Monthly Statistics

June 2024 marked a period of relative stability in Bedford's overall crime rate, which stood at 9.2 per 1,000 residents — 12.2% above the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This figure reflects the area's position as a mixed urban-rural district with a combination of local factors influencing crime patterns. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 29.7% of all reported incidents (532 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (19.2%, 343 cases) and shoplifting (10.9%, 196 cases). These figures are consistent with Bedford's character as a town with significant retail and community spaces that may contribute to higher rates of anti-social behaviour and property crimes. Seasonal factors appear to have played a role, with the start of summer potentially influencing patterns of activity and crime. The rate of violent crime (2.7 per 1,000) was slightly below the UK average for this category (2.8 per 1,000), suggesting that local initiatives or policing strategies may be effective in mitigating violence. However, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting rates were higher than UK averages, indicating areas where targeted interventions could be beneficial. The data also shows a slight seasonal dip in vehicle crime, which fell by 23.5% compared to the previous month, linked to changes in commuter patterns or weather-related activity shifts.

The most dramatic month-on-month change was a 120% increase in theft from the person, rising from five to 11 incidents. This spike, though small in absolute terms, underscores a potential shift in criminal activity patterns during summer. Robbery also rose sharply, with a 54.5% increase from 11 to 17 cases, suggesting heightened vulnerability in specific locations or times. Shoplifting saw a 51.9% jump to 196 incidents, aligning with seasonal trends in retail areas. Anti-social behaviour remained 29% above the UK average at 1.8 per 1,000, a figure that may reflect Bedford's dense urban zones and summer social activity. Conversely, possession of weapons fell 66.7% to seven cases, possibly linked to increased police visibility or seasonal changes in criminal priorities. These swings highlight the dynamic nature of local crime patterns, with some categories responding strongly to summer conditions.

Bedford's crime rate in June 2024 remained stable at 9.2 per 1,000 residents, a 0.8% increase from the previous month's 9.1 per 1,000. This suggests no significant shift in overall crime levels despite notable fluctuations in specific categories. On a daily basis, 60 crimes were reported per day in June, a figure that reflects the local context without UK-wide comparison. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 109 residents, a metric that contextualises the monthly exposure for Bedford's population of 194,976. This rate is consistent with the area's character as a mixed urban-rural district, where seasonal factors like the start of summer may influence patterns of activity and crime. The stability in the overall rate contrasts with the sharp increases in specific crime types, highlighting the need to examine subcategories for deeper insights.